Tech transfer from Wits’ work at CERN breaks open new high-tech possibilities in SA industry

25 October 2016 - Wits University

Design and production of new 16-layer electronics board, produced in South Africa for CERN, showcased to Science and Technology Minster, Naledi Pandor.

Researchers from the Wits Experimental High Energy Particle Physics (EHEP) group showcased the benefits of the collaboration between science and industry when they displayed a South-African made prototype of a high-tech electronics board at the International Conference on Research Infrastructure (ICRI) that was held in Cape Town recently.

The new 16-layer electronics board, designed for the upgrade of the electronics of the ATLAS detector at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), was manufactured by the Cape Town based company, Trax Interconnect, which specialises in the construction of printed circuit boards (PCB’s). This is the most complex PCB ever manufactured in South Africa to date.

The electronics board was showed off at the South Africa-CERN stand at 2016 ICRI, which was hosted by the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the European Commission. Dr. Thomas Auf der Heyde, Deputy Director-General for Research Development and Support at the Department of Science and Technology, personally highlighted the contribution of the SA-CERN consortium towards the technology transfer of high throughput electronics to South Africa to Science and Techonology Minister, Naledi Pandor.

Minister Pandor, who was duly impressed with the collaboration, took some time to meet with Professor Bruce Mellado, leader of the Wits EHEP team leader at CERN and his students Joyful Mdhluli, Harshna Jivan and Matthew Spoor, as well as with Professor Jean Cleymans, the Chairman of the SA-CERN consortium, and Dr Zinhle Buthelezi and Dr Tom Dietel from the ALICE experiment at the stand.

“We are extremely grateful of the continuing support that the Minister and DST has given to the SA-CERN consortium throughout our work at CERN,” said Mellado.

The electronics board, called the TilePPR, is the basis of a new piece of hardware, named the Tile Calorimeter (TileCal). It will be used in an upcoming upgrade of the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, where the Higgs boson was discovered in 2012.

“This is the next generation of hardware for the ATLAS detector electronics. The Tile Calorimeter is one of the central calorimeters of the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, which is used to measure the energy and direction of the hadrons, jets and tau leptons,” says Mellado.

“This is a great example of how fundamental research that is constantly pushing the boundaries of technical capabilities can directly impact South African economy.”

The LHC will be upgraded in 2024, in order to increase its instantaneous luminosity. This upgrade has called for a complete redesign of the read-out electronics in the Tile Calorimeter.

“The redesign aims at replacing the majority of the on- and off- detector electronics so that all calorimeter signals are digitised and sent to the off-detector electronics,” says Mellado.

Specialised equipment had to be imported for the construction of the board, and was kindly funded by the DST.

The production of the board proved a challenge because of the high density of planes, as well as the extreme precision needed to link up the electronic circuits throughout the 16 layer board. The result in product was a milestone for the South African electronics industry in that this board is the most sophisticated produced so far.

“Trax had to develop a number of techniques and procedures that now enable them to produce high-densitiy boards efficiently,” says Mellado. “These techniques are now used routinely in commissions.”

The company has since increased its employee numbers and is actively involved in skills development and transfer in the South African electronics manufacturing industry.

“We used to be able to only produce up to a maximum of eight-layer PCBSs, and now, thanks to the design of the TilePPr, we now have the 16-layer capability,” says Daniel Dock, managing director of Trax.

Mdhluli, who along with 15 other students from the Wits EHEP group, work at CERN on a rotational basis, said her experience manning the CERN-SA stand at ICRI was an exceptional experience.

“It gave us an opportunity to share with high school learners what the SA-CERN/Wits-ATLAS group does, and we got an opportunity to expose the learners to a different field of study and the opportunities available for them within the science field,” she says. “There is a shortage of data scientists and it is vital to share our experience with young people to try and motivate them into furthering their studies in this field.”

Share

In this section

Quick links

Giving to Wits

Whether you invest in a promising young student, or contribute towards vital research or new buildings and facilities – giving to Wits brings great personal satisfaction and lasting results you can be proud of for years to come.

About

Wits is a remarkable university that is internationally distinguished for its excellent research, high academic standards and commitment to social justice.

Our partners, networks and relationships serve as catalysts for the great ideas that help us to make the impossible, incredible. We invite you to join us on our extraordinary journey to effect meaningful change in society and pave the way for a bright future for generations to come.

Visitor Information

Wits University offers a wealth of sightseeing and educational opportunities for tourists and first-time visitors.Take a virtual tour of our campuses which are spread over more than 400 acres in Parktown and Braamfontein. Maps are easily accessible to help visitors navigate and enjoy our world-class facilities. Experience the arts by browsing through our current events or discover the diversity of our rich heritage by visiting one of our museums or centres here.

About Schools Liaison

The Wits Schools Liaison team forms the link between high school and university allowing a smooth transitional process for the student. The Schools Liaison Office gives the student a holistic understanding of what is expected of them at university level.